From today, users are once again able to get daily analysis of their PWV along with their weight, body composition (body fat, water %, muscle & bone mass), BMI and standing heart rate by simply stepping on the scale.

Widely recognised as a standalone indicator of cardiovascular health, PWV is a measurement of arterial stiffness, a key indicator of heart health and associated with risks of cardiac incidents such as hypertension, high cholesterol, organ failure, stroke and heart attack.

It is defined as the speed at which heartbeat-generated vibrations spread out along the arterial walls of the body’s circulation system. An elevated PWV is a sign of arterial stiffness and associated with higher blood pressure (as more force is required to circulate the blood), while lower PWV indicates greater artery flexibility and a sign of overall good heart health.

Originally launched in 2016, PWV analysis was introduced on the Body Cardio Scales to help users better understand their cardiovascular health and receive advice to make improvements. However, in January 2018, Withings voluntarily suspended PWV capabilities, while it sought clarification on how regulators would categorise the device.

After working with regulators in Europe and carrying out its own legal review, Withings is assured no further regulatory approval is required in the EU, allowing it to reactivate this innovative feature. Discussions with US regulators are currently ongoing, and it’s hope PWV will be reintroduced to American users soon

Says Eric Carreel, president of Withings:

“I’m delighted to return PWV to European customers. Not only is it one of our customers’ most beloved features, it has the potential to make a huge impact in people’s lives as it gives the ability to receive a daily heart checkup simply by standing on a scale.”

Body Cardio is the most advanced Wi-Fi scale on the market, claims Withings, providing a daily snapshot of overall health and wellbeing. As well as weight, it will also measure, track and provide analysis of body composition (body fat, water %, muscle & bone mass), BMI, standing heart rate and PWV. In addition, it has a range of advanced features including:

Baby Mode – Allows parents to easily weigh their little one just by stepping on the scale with baby in their arms

Family Mode – Up to 8 profiles can be synched to one device for the whole family to use

Athletic Mode – Optimises the scale for performance athletes and for those who work out more than 8 hours a week and have a resting heart rate of below 60 bpm

Weather Updates – Daily weather reports on screen to help inform users of the day ahead

Step Tracking – An activity tracker can be paired with the scale, allowing the previous day’s step total to be reviewed on the scale screen

Long battery life – 12 month rechargeable battery

Body Cardio displays all of its data on its screen as well as in more detail within the accompany Health Mate App that it connects to via Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth. Data within the app can be tracked over time while providing ongoing analysis, motivation and advice.

For PWV, the app will provide an indication of whether a user’s PWV is normal, optimal or at risk as well as lifestyle modifications to improve cardiovascular health such as losing weight, engaging in physical exercise and limiting salt and alcohol intake.

Finally, within the Health Mate app, users can customise what measurements and information appear on the Body Cardio display as well as the order in which they are shown.

Withings Body Cardio is available in black and white for £129.95. Existing customers will receive the new capability as an over-the-air update.